China attempts to shift virus blame
Facing global anger over their mishandling of the outbreak, the Chinese authorities have been trying to shift the blame by pushing theories that the virus originated outside China.
The Chinese state-run media first published that it started in Italy rather than in China as they misrepresented German scientist Dr Kekulé’s research, to then switch the blame to India after scientists published a paper about packaged food from overseas having brought the virus to China.
What is clear, is China's eagerness to “muddy the waters”.
Trump Lawyer tests positive for COVID-19
US President Donald Trump has announced on Twitter that his lawyer and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has tested positive for coronavirus.
Mr Trump wished Mr Giuliani a quick recovery, and claimed he has been “working tirelessly exposing the most corrupt election (by far!) in the history of the USA.”
There have been more than 14 million COVID-19 cases recorded in the United States, with over 280,000 deaths.
Language Barrier causes travellers to slip through hotel quarantine
NSW Police have admitted that they incorrectly let two German travellers transit to Melbourne without undergoing Hotel Quarantine in Sydney.
Police state there was a ‘language barrier’, between the two travelers and Airport security, who thought they were exempt from Hotel quarantine and escorted them to board their Melbourne flight.
The pair are currently in hotel quarantine in Victoria, and have tested negative for COVID-19.
Extinction Rebellion exposes “Climate villain”
Extinction Rebellion announced they will stage a disruptive but non violent action tonight at 6pm in the Swanston street and Bourke street intersection in Melbourne to denounce Rupert Murdoch’s role in using NewsCorp for decades to deny the ecological crisis.
Extinction Rebellion Spokesperson David Urbinder said 68% percent of Australian voters want the government to deliver more ambitious carbon targets, but both the Federal government and opposition support taxpayer-funded fossil fuel energy.
Action needed by State Government to Secure Agricultural Training for Future Students
The announcement of the 2020 State Government budget has left little funding for the Longreach and Emerald Agricultural Colleges, causing a significant blow to the agricultural industry and the future training of agricultural workers.
Ag Force CEO Michael Guerin said despite acknowledging agriculture was deemed an essential industry in Queensland, the State Government was showing a lack of commitment to the colleges which provide industry relevant training.
$25 low-risk birthing suite to be delivered in 2021 for Cape York women
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, the Honourable Yvette D’Ath announced a $25 million low-risk birthing unit will be operational at the Weipa Integrated Health service by the end of 2021.
Women living in western Cape York communities will be able to give birth closer to home next year and the project should create more than a dozen construction and health jobs.
Women with higher risk pregnancies will continue to travel to Cairns.
Various Artists: Kindred Spirits 3
<p><span><span>- It may just be because I know a lot of musos, is anyone’s else’s social media feed overflowing with posts berating Spotify? In the last couple of years the “too-cheap-to-steal” business-model has finally managed to turn a profit in the music industry and the corporate megalith that crazily optimistic investors kept pumping funds into is actually showing a return on investment.
Rico Nasty: Nightmare Vacation
<p><span><span><em>- Nightmare Vacation</em>, the debut album from Rico Nasty is often aggressive and absurd and for those reasons, it’s her best work yet. Though it’s her first record proper after a string of mixtapes, the American rapper continues to embrace her eccentric spirit, in an eclectic array of sounds that defy traditional genre conventions and ultimately make her debut one of the most exciting of the year.</span></span></p>
12PM ZEDLINES - 4 December
by 4ZZZ Reporters Lily-Rose Davies and Grace Nakamura
Image Credit: Sam Power/Unsplash
Chemicals found in green turtle blood
More than 4000 toxic chemical compounds, including heart and gout medication, pesticides and industrial adhesives and metals, have been found in the blood of Great Barrier Reef turtles.
Findings from a joint Griffith University and World Wide Fund for Nature-Australia study released today reveal the staggering level of chemicals being absorbed by coastal green turtles.
Scientists also detected signs of poor health associated with exposure to chemical pollution in the turtles.